Leeward Community College student Austin Cataluna, who is studying mechanical engineering, spent this past year as one of 120 students nationwide as a MFA NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholar (NCAS). The six-month journey is designed to advance students’ capabilities in STEM and prepare them for better representation in the field.
NCAS challenges students through three missions focusing on NASA’s mission goals, collaboration and career pathways. Each student progresses to the next mission after completing the previous one.
Mission 1 was a five-week online course focusing on NASA’s history and student career development. In Mission 2 Cataluna worked as a project manager with a team of nine to design a simulated mission to the moon. In Mission 3 Cataluna had the opportunity to experience the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California for a three-week hybrid capstone project.
“It was only my second time traveling outside of Hawaiʻi alone,” Cataluna said. “The military base setting, complete with unique aircrafts, sonic booms and 106 degree heat added to the excitement. Learning about the technologies and innovations in aerospace, a field I’m interested in entering, was fascinating,”
While at the research center, Cataluna met and learned from some of NASAs top professionals, including shadowing an operations engineer working with the ER-2 Spy Plane. This experience provided him a glimpse into the day-to-day life of someone working in one of the most challenging, yet rewarding fields.
Cataluna is preparing to transfer to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and credits Leeward CC with helping him seize this opportunity.
“I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the flexibility that Leeward provides,” Cataluna said. Adding that his college experience has been instrumental in preparing him for a future career in engineering.
